Thoughts on the Benefits of Barefoot Running

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I was talking with my friend Daves who is into barefoot running the other day and we’re talking about the benefits of running bare, and decided to try running barefoot on a treadmill on a slow gym day, and I found out that what we talked about is indeed true, that running barefoot naturally corrects your running form allowing you to land on the balls of my feet. I tried to deliberately land on my heels a few times but it just doesn’t feel right.

forefoot-versus-heel-striking-diagram

To illustrate the difference, forefoot strike happens naturally right below your center of gravity, while heel striking happens in front of your center of gravity creating a deceleration at impact. Landing on the heels of the feet releases more pressure and shock to the legs and knees, more shock = more injuries.

Running barefoot also improves the range of motion of the ankles, feet and toes, it also stimulates the neurons and nerves that are essential to lower body movement and enhances the natural posture and the alignment of the spine.

So am I a barefoot runner now? Probably not, but I would like to run barefoot once in a while to get my posture in check, yet maybe not entirely barefoot as well especially when running in the streets of Manila. I’d probably need to get a hold of footwear that mimic the feel and freedom of being barefoot.

kuusa_100104Vibram_FiveFingers_KSO

Daves suggested the Feelmax Kuusa, but I’m more inclined to grab a pair of Vibram Five Fingers.

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11 COMMENTS

  1. when i got interested in barefoot running, VFF wasn't available locally. purchasing it online may prove some difficulty as you'll need to be a bit more accurate on the sizing. i am a size 43/44 on regular sneakers but a size 42 on VFFs. gonna grab a pair of bikilas soon

  2. @ pseudo barefoot runner: The Vibram FiveFingers are now easily available here in the Philippines. The kiosk is located at Level 1, Powerplant Mall Rockwell Center, Makati City, Philippines (at the bridgeway near Anne Klein).

  3. used my vff kso yesterday at the 10.10.10. run and i love it!!! got some weird looks from other runners and some kids even said that im running with my socks.. funny thou but still loving it! :) will be using it again next week at the pink run.. hope to have a better time… :)

  4. You just answered your own question, it really doesn’t make sense barefoot running, maybe on the treadmill as warm up…it takes only a single nail or pebble of rock to stop you

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